Nigeria para rowing athlete, Oluwatoyin Alayode told www.aclsports.com that she stands a better chance of qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympics Games next year.
Oluwatoyin Alayode won bronze medal in the PR1 women’s single scull at the 2023 African Para Rowing Paralympic qualifiers held in Tunisia last October.
The African bronze medallist explained that the Final Paralympic Qualification Regatta will take place in Lucerne, Switzerland from 19th to 21st May 2024.
She attributed her bronze medal in the African qualifiers to lack of adequate preparations.
She said, “I know I have what it takes to make it to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. The last slot for making it to the Games is through the World Championship in Switzerland next year; I hope Nigeria believes in my dreams and appears there.
“I felt sad and down from winning a bronze medal at the 2023 African Paralympic qualifiers because my intention was to win gold and qualify. I did my best but preparations were not adequate due to the lack of boats in the country.
Alayode who won a bronze medal at the 1st African Para Games in Ghana revealed that home based players pass through a lot to compete for the country.
She said, “Home based athletes are passing through lots of challenges. We do not train as expected because of many factors; the para athletes have to sacrifice for the sport most times. Luck and miracles can only happen when it meets preparations on ground”.
